My testing and ideas led me to create the little guy in front of me, a small spider-like machine that could jump at people. It wasn’t the most intimidating unless you feared giant metal spiders, but it did have the parts to be dangerous. I had to wiggle the pieces a bit, but I was able to squeeze out three modules for it, first was a seeking command, it would seek out anything I hadn’t blacklisted, then it would attach, using its long legs with cable winches to lock around the target, then squeeze, which would hopefully end well, for me that is, not whoever was getting squeezed. But otherwise, it was chilling with the Machine Mother on the boss floor, just kinda, sitting there, at least she seems to like it, given the small nest she’s making for it.
Speaking of her, I’ve been having some concerns lately about her, well, not HER specifically, but rather the way that the rooms are changing the deeper we go. The first couple of floors are either bare stone or fit the machine-esque style I chose, and while elements could be seen in floor four, it was floor five and the boss room that it showed. The machines and environments are becoming increasingly not just dangerous, but toxic. Rather than clean machine aesthetics and efficiency, they were becoming dangerously caustic and dangerous to be around, even the auto-generated critters seemed to be unusually dangerous, toads were carrying pockets of some vile sludge that melted through metal and stone, deer creatures that blew razor thin clouds of ash and soot from their antlers and much more.
I wasn’t concerned about its impact on me or my overall power, but eventually, people would want to get down here and want to explore, if only for valuables. Although it could just be par for the course for dungeons to force people inside of them to adapt, I-we couldn’t hold their hands by giving the ideal conditions all the time, at some point I would need them to adapt, especially if they want me to make more floors.
Speaking of them I have a meeting in a bit.
Traveling to the merchant proved I was just in time, Arthur had just arrived as well.
“The master welcomes you, lord Nightingale.”
”And I accept the welcomes and offer my thanks, but I believe we have more pressing concerns than decorum.”
The merchant looked annoyed but continued.
“So you say, my master wishes to know what steps have been taken regarding the plan?”
”The initial fighting has subsided, for the most part, but while the metal is hot we should strike.”
”Aside from the monsters we have dispatched?”
”Partially, I have found that we are lacking in good manpower, we have been… losing people.”
”Have they found us out?”
”Potentially, but not for this, it is because of, other, reasons.”
”The master asks if he can assist in that?”
”Unfortunately not, it is a necessary problem, for now. But still, the loss of men will make our future endeavors harder and our position less secure. What I have devised though, is to use the criminals and lowlifes of the three towns my family governs, they are among the more peaceful in the outer court but even they have plentiful inmates who seek freedom.”
”My master is confused, do we not need faithful men and women? Would these, criminals, not give away our secrets?”
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”Oh don’t worry, I doubt they’ll live long enough to ever be that much of a threat, or that knowledgeable of our plans, all they need to do is go where I tell them and try not to die too fast.”
That was… unusually cruel and callous of him, was something off with Arthur? Admittedly we didn’t know each other too well, but still, what I did know told me that this behavior was strange.
”My master expresses some doubt for this plan, he is uncertain if this path is, right.”
”Oh don’t worry about that, my people may not have access to as great of magics, but our inmates are always given compliance seals, so we don’t need to worry about them.”
That wasn’t what I meant, nor does it ease my concerns, but if we go down this path then I’ll voice my concerns then.
For now, let’s hear him out.
“For now though, I would ask that you allow me to use some of your creations to continue the plan, Perhaps some of those rat creatures or the hobgoblins you created earlier?”
That was more reasonable, and yeah, I’d do it, but no ratkin.
”The master accepts, however, to maintain the secrecy, he shall grant you hobgoblins instead, those that have been conditioned on the lower floors, additionally, the master will grant you a weapon to help you.”
In Arthur’s hands was a knife, a weapon that could drop if someone defeated the machine mother. It was a bit of an ‘in the moment’ thing, but I felt it might help, besides, I’d like to think of it as advertising for the future. The knife itself wasn’t that amazing though, just a sharp piece of metal that applied the [rust fever] condition, something that should only affect metal creatures and structures, shouldn’t be too bad.
Additionally, I also pulled up a small team of the fifth-floor hobgoblins, but unlike the brownish-green skinned ones they were before, they were now much more vile looking. Rusty, oxidized skin that was covered in what could have been anything from hardened blood, rust, or acid, they looked less like forest dwellers and more like old batteries that grew arms and legs with cruel smiles and long ears. Their equipment was also no less strange and unsightly, crooked and hooked things, they wielded spears and tools that looked more like man catchers than actual weapons, but they also had little in the way of armor, just rough spun pants and tunics with hoods, concealing their viscous faces.
“My thanks, friend, I shall use both your creatures and this weapon well.”
He turned to leave but turned back with a look of remembrance.
”Actually, I do have one more matter to discuss with you, in regards to the orb you gave me.”
He pulled it out of some back pocket.
”My, companions, seemed to have taken it while you were away, I am unsure of what they have done to it but they seemed to be planning to use it in some magic spell of sorts.”
He held it out to the merchant.
Hmm, looking it over it’s not visibly any different, but the connection I used to have with it was severed, it could still function as intended but it was no longer a part of me, it was its own thing now.
“I see then, if that is so then, how might I repay you, and reprimand my people, seeing as you are the offended party.”
Hmm, I wasn’t that torn up about it, annoyed sure, but not overly, I could live without it. But from what I could tell, both now and in the past, simply waving it off wouldn’t work, their laws or culture demanded some kind of punishment and repayment.
”My master wishes to speak with the offenders before making a judgment.”
”So you shall, unfortunately, though I will not be present, with the addition of your forces I’ll need to begin assembling my men to begin our plan again. In my stead will be Edward, he’s no steward but he knows what to do and the applicable laws.”
”The master wishes you luck then.”
”You as well my friend, til next time.”
Then he left, for real this time, my team of five following him closely.
An hour or so later, a group of four came in, three of which I knew already. It was Arthur and Edward’s girlfriends, I think, as well as Edward and someone I didn’t know.
“Dungeon master, I introduce to you the current castellan of the castle, ser Baldr Rickson, he shall be the witness for these proceedings.”
Oh? Sure I asked for a word but I didn’t mean like a trial.
”My master has some confusion, he did not request such a meeting, only that he might speak with the two.”
”No worries, this is just so that everyone is on the same page, and if you do decide on a judgment then we are here to officiate it.”
”If so then, My master asks what you intended for the sphere, and what you did to alter its connection to him.”
They looked worried but hopeful.
”Well….”